Matrixyl Calculator
Also known as: Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, pal-KTTKS, Matrixyl 3000
What is Matrixyl?
Matrixyl is the trade name for palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (pal-KTTKS), a synthetic five-amino-acid sequence — Lys-Thr-Thr-Lys-Ser — derived from the C-terminal propeptide region of type I procollagen. The pentapeptide is conjugated to palmitic acid to make it lipid-soluble enough to penetrate the stratum corneum when applied topically. Once below the skin surface, the KTTKS fragment is thought to mimic a feedback signal generated during normal collagen turnover and promote production of collagen I, collagen IV, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid in dermal fibroblasts. Matrixyl 3000 is a related formulation that pairs palmitoyl tripeptide-1 with palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7. Both are exclusively topical cosmetic ingredients — Matrixyl is not used as an injectable peptide.
| 5 mg | lyophilized powder |
| 0.5 mg | ≈ 20 U-100 units (at 5mg / 2mL) |
| 1 mg | ≈ 40 U-100 units (at 5mg / 2mL) |
How it's typically prepared
Matrixyl is a topical ingredient and is sold formulated into serums and creams at concentrations typically between 3% and 10% of the active palmitoyl pentapeptide-4. Lyophilized raw powder is occasionally sold to formulators; reconstitution math on this page is illustrative for users who want to compare it to injectable peptides on a milligram basis. The standard topical use case is a serum or cream applied twice daily and stored away from direct light.
Matrixyl Topical Concentrations
Matrixyl is studied and used topically, so 'dosage' here refers to formulation concentration rather than an injected milligram amount. The pivotal clinical study published by Robinson and colleagues used palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 at 3 parts per million in a moisturizer base, applied twice daily for twelve weeks. Higher cosmetic concentrations marketed in retail serums are formulation choices made by brands, not clinically validated dose responses.
Commercial Matrixyl-branded raw materials are typically supplied at a working concentration that translates to roughly 4–10% inclusion in a finished serum. That puts the active palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 content of a typical retail product in the high parts-per-million to low parts-per-thousand range. There is no published evidence that increasing concentration above the levels used in the Robinson study produces a proportionally larger effect on collagen markers.
Because Matrixyl is exclusively topical, the calculator on this page is illustrative — it shows how a 5 mg lyophilized vial of pal-KTTKS would look if rehydrated in 2 mL of bacteriostatic water, for users who want to compare cosmetic peptides to injectable peptides on a per-milligram basis. The route of administration that the published clinical literature actually supports is topical application of a finished, formulated product.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Matrixyl injected?
- No. Matrixyl is a topical cosmetic ingredient. There is no published clinical literature on injectable use of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in humans, and reputable formulators sell it only as a serum or cream component.
- What does Matrixyl do?
- The KTTKS fragment is structurally identical to a sequence found at the C-terminus of type I procollagen. Topical application is hypothesized to mimic the feedback signal generated when collagen breaks down, prompting fibroblasts to produce more collagen I, collagen IV, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid. A 12-week split-face vehicle-controlled trial of pal-KTTKS at 3 ppm reported reductions in wrinkle volume and depth versus placebo.
- What is the difference between Matrixyl and Matrixyl 3000?
- Original Matrixyl is palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (pal-KTTKS) on its own. Matrixyl 3000 is a Sederma-branded blend of two shorter palmitoylated peptides — palmitoyl tripeptide-1 (pal-GHK) and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 (pal-GQPR). The 3000 blend is marketed as targeting the matrikine-mimetic pathway from a different angle. Both are topical cosmetic ingredients.
- What concentration of Matrixyl is used in skincare products?
- Commercial serums typically formulate palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 at 3–10% of a Matrixyl-trade-name solution, which itself is a dilute working concentration. The original Procter & Gamble pal-KTTKS clinical study used 3 parts per million of the active peptide. Higher cosmetic-grade percentages are commercial-formulation choices, not clinical-trial doses.
- Is Matrixyl safe to use on the face?
- Topical Matrixyl has a long history of cosmetic use with no consistent safety signal in published trials or post-market surveillance. As with any new topical, patch-test before broad-area application. The peptide does not have a recognized injectable safety profile because injectable use is not the route of administration this ingredient is studied for.
- Does Matrixyl replace retinol?
- No — they target different pathways. Retinoids upregulate epidermal turnover and collagen synthesis through retinoic acid receptors. Matrixyl is hypothesized to stimulate dermal extracellular-matrix production via matrikine signaling. They are commonly used in the same regimen at different times of day, but neither is interchangeable with the other.
PeptideDose is an educational reference. It is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with a licensed healthcare provider. Doses shown in presets are derived from published protocols and product labels — they are not personal recommendations.